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Home > Travel South America > South America Destinations > Illapel
Illapel
South America is the fourth largest continent of the Western Hemisphere. It is divided politically into 12 independent countries namely Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela and the overseas department of French Guiana. The continent extends to 7,640 kilometers from Punta Gallinas, Colombia, in the north to Cape Horn, Chile, in the south. At its broadest point, near where it is crossed by the equator, the continent extends to 5,300 kilometers from east to west.
South America is connected to North America by the Isthmus of Panama. It is washed on the north by the Caribbean Sea, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. Topographically the continent is divided into three sections namely the South American cordillera, the interior lowlands, and the continental shield. Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion and Portuguese and Spanish are the primary languages of the continent.
Illapel is found on a plain, on the side of the Illapel River, 60 kilometers northeast of Los Vilos and 255 kilometers south of Ovalle. It has a population of 28,968. It was first founded in 1752, but at that time it was located on a different site. In 1788 it was re-founded in the place where it now lies, to better suit the miners and landowners of the valley. Nowadays it relies on agriculture and a small amount of mining.
Illapel is a very busy city, and its traditions and marked archeological setting stand out, as well as its colonial buildings. During your stay you should visit the Plaza de Armas, with the town hall opposite, a lovely building in the colonial style. The Casa Villarroel, the Casas del Mirador and the Casas de La Puntilla are also recommended.
You can get there by road from La Serena travel south on the Carretera Ruta 5 Norte towards the turnoff to Illapel at kilometers 242. From the junction, it’s a further 57 kilometers along ruta D-85. If you are coming from the south, you should take Ruta 5, northbound, to the same junction. There are frequent departures every day from the villages in the surrounding areas, and from Santiago.
A city known for its historic myths and traditions, scenic beauty, cooperative people and luxurious hotels and cottages, Illapel is one of the favorite holiday destinations for most of the vacation lovers.
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